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Denmark has announced it’s shelling out some significant moolah to acquire F-35 fighter jets and expand its military presence in the Arctic, including Greenland.

Some shit you should know before you dig in: If you’re unaware, relations between the US and Denmark have been rocky over the last year due to President Trump expressing interest in purchasing Greenland. Trump has argued that Greenland holds immense strategic value for the US, citing its location between North America and Russia as critical for missile early-warning systems, especially as newer, faster weapons are developed. He’s also pointed to the rapid melting of Arctic ice, which is opening up new global trade routes, and warned about growing Russian and Chinese influence in the region (claiming the US must act to secure its interests). Denmark, which governs Greenland, shut the idea down quickly, calling the proposal absurd and noting that Greenland is not for sale. Meanwhile, Greenlanders themselves have largely rejected any talk of US acquisition, demanding more say in defense decisions and accusing both the US and Denmark of treating the island as a geopolitical pawn rather than a self-governing territory.

What’s going on now: In a notable move, Denmark confirmed a series of sweeping defense investments totaling 56.4 billion Danish kroner ($8.7 billion USD) aimed at strengthening its military capabilities, particularly in the Arctic. The biggest-ticket item is the acquisition of 16 additional US-made F-35 fighter jets, bringing Denmark’s future fleet to 43 aircraft. Alongside the jets, Denmark is also planning to acquire Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) wingman drones, which can operate alongside the F-35s to carry out reconnaissance and offensive missions.

The Arctic portion of the spending package is equally ambitious. Roughly $4.2 billion USD will go toward bolstering security infrastructure across Greenland and the broader North Atlantic region. This includes the purchase of two Arctic-class patrol ships, maritime surveillance aircraft, long-range drones, and new radar systems designed to improve early detection and tracking capabilities, especially in East Greenland. Denmark also plans to establish a brand-new Arctic Command headquarters in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, and has approved the construction of a North Atlantic undersea communications cable to enhance secure connectivity between Greenland and mainland Denmark.

Danish defense officials have framed the spending as both a necessary response to rising geopolitical threats and a clear message of sovereignty, particularly in light of renewed US and Russian interest in the Arctic. Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said the goal is to ensure Denmark has a “stronger and more visible presence” in Greenland and across all Arctic domains. He stressed that the investments would help the Danish Armed Forces respond quickly and decisively to evolving security challenges.

Despite this, critics, including some Greenlandic leaders, argue that the investments were made with minimal local consultation, further inflaming concerns that Greenland’s autonomy is being undermined by high-level geopolitical deals.